Infant Struggling with Tummy Time? Try These Creative Tummy Time Modifications
Tummy time is a crucial step in your little one’s development, but not all babies embrace it with enthusiasm. If you’ve noticed your infant struggling during this seemingly simple activity, you’re not alone! And the good news? It doesn’t have to be a stressful experience! With a splash of creativity and a smidge bit of patience, you can transform tummy time into a fun and engaging adventure. Say goodbye to struggles and hello to giggles as we dive into creative solutions that will keep your baby eager and excited to explore the world from a new, engaging angle!
Understanding the Importance of Tummy Time
As you likely already know, tummy time is a crucial component in an infant’s early development and is a significant stepping stone in the road to independent play. By providing your infant with regular tummy time, you are setting the stage for their physical milestones and overall motor skills.
Tummy time can contribute to:
-the development of stability muscles
-decreased likelihood of flat spots (aka plagiocephaly and brachycephaly)
-sensory development (allows them to explore and interact with their surroundings in a way that is not possible when they are lying on their back)
-improved digestion and decreased gastrointestinal symptoms (gentle pressure on their abdomen as well as movement of their little bodies can aid in the release of trapped gas, reducing discomfort)
Common Challenges Infants Face During Tummy Time
Despite its numerous benefits, tummy time can be a challenging experience for many infants. Common contributors to frustrating tummy time commonly include positioning, reflux, gastrointestinal issues, and the tension patterns that accompanies these stressors. Read more about these sneaky little challenges here.
Signs Your Baby Needs Tummy Time Modifications
While monitoring your little bundle of joy during their tummy time play, let’s keep an eye out for persistent fussiness or crying whenever your baby is placed on their stomach as well as continued distress as these suggest that adjustments are necessary. This could mean altering the position, duration, timing, or environment of tummy time to better suit your baby’s needs.
Another sign to look out for is your baby’s physical reactions during tummy time. If your baby seems unable to lift their head, struggles to move their arms, or appears overly tense, these are indicators that the activity might be too challenging for their current developmental stage. In such cases, modifications like providing additional support or using props to make the position more comfortable can be beneficial. It’s important to ensure that tummy time is a manageable and enjoyable experience for your baby, rather than a source of frustration. If we just “fight through it” and continue to push through their unhappiness, they can create association between being placed on the belly with immediate discomfort and irritation. Not great.
Creative Modifications to Enhance Tummy Time
Seated & Facing Outward
Now, this one doesn’t look like tummy time one bit! However, for the littles with reflux or really upset bellies… this is a good way to work on some head control until we can get them feeling more comfortable in a tummy down position!
Superman Tummy Time
Same, same as before! If the pressure on belly from standard tummy time is just too much to handle or results in some reflux, this position allows us to modify a more upright position while giving some wiggle room for more horizontal movement ALLLL while working on that neck control. This is also fun just to mix things up every once in a while!
Elevated Tummy Time
Use a Boppy, the moon shaped pillow that commonly accompanies play mats, or a rolled up blanket under the chest for elevated support.
One effective way to enhance tummy time is by using a rolled-up towel or a small pillow for support. Think about performing a plank… it’s easier the more elevated you are, yeah? Same for tiny tots! We’re making it a bit easier on those bity shoulders and increasing the likelihood that the lifting movement is coming from the neck and not compensation elsewhere. Reminder to keep those little elbows under the shoulders!
Tummy Time on an Exercise Ball
STILL struggling with floor time, but the other exercises are a bit too easy? Wanting to work on some of that shoulder stability that’s oh so important for our next big milestones? Let’s use a ball! This allows us to be more upright to make it easier or to take pressure off of belly/reduce reflux symptoms. Tip that ball forward and get baby more horizontal to the floor and BOOM, you’ll see more recruitment from those little shoulders stabilizers, baby neck stabilizers, and sooo much more fun! If you’re feeling a bit fun, let’s rock side to side, forward to back, and maybe, juuuust maybe throw in some circular motions. Not only is this achieving the typical benefits of tummy time, but you’re adding in a fun new sensory experience as well!
*Feel free to stabilize the elbows and remember to keep the elbows under the shoulders!
A few honorable mentions/oldies, but goodies:
On your chest. Yes, this counts!
Knees bent and little one between your shins, head above the knees, and their little peepers staring right at you.
Don’t forget to make it fun! Ramp up the engagement by introducing different visual and auditory stimuli. Placing a mirror in front of your baby can capture their attention and encourage them to lift their head to see their reflection. Similarly, using toys that make noise, light up toys, or even light up toys that make noise can stimulate your baby’s senses and motivate them to reach and interact. Feel free to throw in a fun textured rug, water play mat, or blanket to switch it up a bit! By creating a stimulating and interactive environment, you can transform tummy time into a fun and enriching experience for your baby.
With a little creativity and patience, tummy time can become a cherished part of your baby’s daily routine, filled with giggles, discoveries, and milestones. While these modifications might make it easier for little one to work on their tummy time, let’s find out the underlying cause to their discomfort!
Hi there!
My name is Dr. Dani and I’m an in-home chiropractor for busy women and infants within the Denver Metro area. I work with women of all ages and stages, but truly shine with the pregnancy, postpartum, and pediatric populations. I strive for quality care through extended appointment times, diverse treatment modalities, personalized home-care recommendations, and education so families can feel both empowered and cared for!
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